Suzanne Wesley, CSJ

Caring, generous, a good listener

Norman and Joan (Brunsell) Wesley of Sheridan, Wyoming, welcomed their first child, whom they named Sue Ann, on June 8, 1944. Three sisters and a brother eventually completed the family. During Sue’s years of growing up, the family moved several times because of their dad’s work: from Wyoming to Alabama to Omaha, Nebraska to Kansas City, Missouri. Sue met the Sisters of St. Joseph in Kansas City where she attended four years of high school at St. Teresa’s Academy. Watching the sisters interact with one another and seeing their joyfulness and respect toward each other, drew her to them.

Sue entered the Sisters of St. Joseph a few months after graduation on September 15, 1962, receiving the habit and the name Sister Joan Raymond in 1963. After being asked to study nursing, she enrolled in St. Louis University School of Nursing, graduating in 1969. Then, she served briefly as a nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood, Missouri, before she was sent to St. Joseph Hospital in August, Georgia, to be head nurse/supervisor.

The years 1972 to 1975 were very busy for her. Sister Suzanne returned to St. Louis to minister as a staff nurse at Cardinal Ritter Institute and as a nurse educator at Nazareth Convent (now Nazareth Living Center) while attending St. Louis University to study gerontology. She was then employed by Cardinal Ritter Institute as the health maintenance director until 1979.

She returned to St. Louis University that same year to begin her master’s degree in public health. With her degree in hand, S. Suzanne went back to St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood (1981) as administrative resident. (That was also the year her name could be found listed in "Who’s Who in America Nursing.")

In 1982, S. Suzanne became the assistant administrator and director of nursing at Tower Village Nursing Care Center in St. Louis. Returning to St. Joseph in Kirkwood in 1983, her position was home care/hospice director. Then, in 1987, she became the assistant vice-president of the hospital, becoming the vice-president in 1990. A year later, she ministered at St. Joseph Hospital/St. Mary Health Center as clinical vice president for the next two years.

Drawn by the needs of the elderly, she left hospital work and accepted the position of executive director at Cardinal Carberry Senior Living Center in St. Louis in 1997. In 2002, her title changed to Cardinal Carberry chief executive officer (CEO). Then, in 2008, she was elected to the Province Leadership Team, retaining her position with Cardinal Ritter. When her term in leadership ended in 2014, she continued as CEO at Cardinal Ritter until her retirement in 2018, choosing to be available for volunteer activities as needed.

Throughout her career, S. Suzanne was honored with several awards for her work, including: the Glennon Apostolic Service Program Award (1994), the Founders Award from Fontbonne University (2004) and the Heart of the Community Citizen of the Year from the City of Shrewsbury, Missouri (2009).

By Sister Helen Oates

Watch S. Suzanne's online vigil

Watch S. Suzanne's funeral service